As an analysis of the very recently by-gone European elections, and as a closure of this series of texts, we would like to provide some notes on the unquestionable success of Podemos in Spain. This electoral formation – let's not call it a party, in the traditional sense, prematurely – gained five seats in the European Parliament after a seemingly short period of four months of electoral work. As participants of social movements looking to produce a radically democratic... Read more

The elections are over, and the
results are plain to see. We have, inside the “You tell us!” project, at length
discussed the elections themselves, about parties, intolerance, euroscepticism,
and the EU’s future. It has been like a trip across Europe, its politics and
society. “We are one” and we showed it, expressing different opinions on
different issues coming from different places, but with a similar and common
spirit.

And I’m happy to have been partly wrong about Movimento 5... Read more

As the euro-elections are over, pro-Europeans are worried with the
outcome and see the big gains anti-EU parties have made as a danger to the
European project and its core values. On the other hand, those who voted for
the ‘anti-establishment’ parties hope they can actually bring the change they
want and have these representatives keep their word. No matter their narratives
(irrational EU bureaucrats, incomprehensible and heavy laws, immigrants, lazy
Southerners, criminal Eastern Europeans... Read more

These European Parliament elections were the first proper EP elections in Croatia, after Croatia’s accession to the European Union. In 2013 we elected 12 MEPs and following the referendum on Croatia’s accession to the EU, had our first real chance for Croatian citizens to participate in some political process of EU-wide importance. But, this turned out not to be so popular or even relevant for them.

Actually, that was expected and the final turnout (around 20%) was no big surprise.... Read more

The European Elections are finished. This
column will expire as well. Before it does, I would like to share how my writing here really
caused a profound change, both concerning my views about Europe and my own personal
activities.

Writing from a more classical liberal
perspective, there was, of course, an anti-EU bias to be recognized in my
writing. Although Europe always was important for me, I widely considered the
EU as an unnecessary evil. In informing myself more about it, my... Read more

The European Parliament elections were, as expected, a time
when voters would tell their establishments that they did not like the way
things were going. As expected, the Eurosceptics in France and the UK broke through
and received significant national support – in France, Marine Le Pen’s National
Front (which vows to ‘defend France’) won its first national election and is sending
24 MEPs to Brussels; in the UK, Nigel Farage’s anti-EU UK Independence Party
(UKIP) pulled off a similar triumph... Read more

I have trouble summing up
these elections and everything that led to them. There was a boring campaign,
skimming over important issues (which was to be expected, I think) and the lowest
turnout ever. Once again, right-wing parties completely dominated the Polish elections, while left-wing parties hit rock bottom. Only one left-wing party
won any seats, and less than last time, while another didn’t even cross the election
threshold. It could always be worse; thankfully the far-right radicals... Read more

The results of the European election in Greece must be
viewed through the lens of the ongoing harsh austerity measures
imposed by the Troika and the Greek governments post-2009. Hence, the victory
of the Left party - SYRIZA - was not particularly surprising, although undeniably historic.

In order to fully grasp the significance of this
result, we need to factor in the successes of the left represented by SYRIZA in
the municipal and provincial elections that took place on May 18 and... Read more

We
have all followed the MEP election campaign in our countries, and also in other
European countries. Now the results are out, political scientists have been
quick to analyse the shift our continent is making. To some, it is a result
that could spell disaster, while for others it could mean hope and indicates
that Europeans are voicing their concerns.

Personally, I am not too surprised with the results. Official polls before the
election were showing that the National Front in... Read more

A spectre is haunting
the United Kingdom – the spectre of UKIP. Nigel Farage promised an earthquake
that would shatter the British political landscape, and he delivered. The
Westminster elite anxiously grope their puny necks, knowing their hour is up,
the “People’s Army” sharpening their axes, just waiting to storm off to the
Houses of Parliament next year. Feral patriots shudder with anticipation at the
prospect of reclaiming their lost land. Angry readers of the Daily Telegraph
and the... Read more